MAP-Works Survey: Summary of Student Comments

1. Many of you raved about the variety of activities at BU, but some of you weren’t sure where to start. Here are a few ways to get involved, meet new friends, and explore your interests:
   1. Find a wealth of information at YouDo@BU. Browse BU organizations by category, including community service, governments, and cultural, professional, and social clubs. Check out upcoming events on the public flyerboard. You can also go here to see a full listing of our student organizations by group name or affiliation.
   2. Check out our student life resources. Follow the links to the Student Activities Office, Programming Council, BU Central, and the Office of the Dean of Students to see what’s on at BU.
   3. See the University Calendar for an extensive list of happenings at BU.
   4. Still don’t see what you’re looking for? Start your own organization! Group applications can be found here.
2. Most of you commented that you loved your newfound freedoms since coming to college. However, many of you also felt overwhelmed by these new responsibilities and distractions and wished for more guidance. Here are a few tips on how to adjust to your new lifestyle:
   1. The Educational Resource Center offers numerous workshops to deal with the common problems you identified. Among them are sessions on time management and procrastination, sleep management, strategies for reducing test stress and anxiety, and effectively preparing for exams. See the workshop schedule to sign up, or call or visit the ERC to speak one-on-one with a specialist about these important topics.
   2. Stop by Student Health Services’ Behavioral Medicine to talk to someone. Staff can help you deal with issues like stress, relationship difficulties, adjustment issues, and depression. No problem is too small or too large to bring to Behavioral Medicine.  Call 617-353-3569 to schedule a confidential individual appointment and ask about some of the confidential groups and workshops going on.
   3. For those of you who felt unsure about your future paths, there are plenty of people who would be happy to speak with you. Seek out an academic advisor at your school or college, or visit the Center for Career Development and learn about choosing a major, writing resumes and cover letters, and exploring potential careers.
   4. Call us at the University Service Center! Our door is always open, and we would love to hear from you and help in any way we can.
3. The adjustment from high school to college can be tough, and not only for the reasons listed above. Your common reaction was that BU courses can be stimulating and challenging but can also be time- and work-intensive. Some of you said that you’re struggling with the heavy workload or having trouble in a particular class. We hope that the tips below will be helpful to your academic success.
   1. Visit your professor during his/her office hours. They hold them for you!
   2. Study in a quiet space away from distractions. Did you know that Mugar is not the only library on campus? Check out some of our other great libraries at BU.
   3. The ERC provides Peer Tutoring for a variety of courses. See if your course is listed here.
   4. Stop by the academic support center within your school or college.
   5. Check out one of the many writing resources available on campus.
4. A number of you expressed financial concerns.
   1. Need information on applying for financial assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, or loans? Check it out on the BU Financial Assistance website. Wondering if you might be eligible for additional financial assistance in any of these forms? Contact Financial Assistance at finaid@bu.edu or 617-353-2965.
   2. Hard to pay the balance due in one lump sum in August and December?  If you’d prefer to make a series of smaller payments in advance of the payment deadline instead, consider the TuitionPay pre-payment plan.
   3. Just looking for some extra spending money? Browse the Job Board and Quickie Job Board listings on the Student Link under the “Work” tab. Sign up for a Quickie Job at the Student Employment Office, located on the second floor of 881 Comm. Ave.
   4. Learn about budgeting, credit scores, student loan repayment, and more through Financial Assistance’s Smart Money 101. You can even pick up a few tips on student discounts, strategic banking and shopping, and how to have fun for less.